The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-11-03
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE.
1T HAS COME TO NORTH CARROLL.
Ma TO STAY.
An Official Statement of the Scope of its
OperatiOnS---Its Present Proportions
and Rapid Growth in the South.

Texas, arrived in Raleigh few days ago.
Being regularly commissioned as National
Lecturer and Organizer by the National
Alliance, and coming with the highest
testimonials as to his character and posi-
ton, we sought an interview with him
with the view of presenting some of the
chief features of this young but powerful
and rapidly growing institution, to our
readers. We give our questions and his an
SWerS:
O. when and where did the Alliance
originated"
A 1T originated in 1872, in Lampassas
county, Texas, among farmers and stock
men for protection against depredations
of horse and cattle thieves and land
swindlers?"
Q. 'When did it begin to enlarge the
scope of its purposes?'
A. In 1875 it appeared in Parker coun
ty, and was then cultlvating social and
charitable relations among its members
and also inaugurating in a small way a
crude system of selling and buying togeth-
er. 1t has grown aud spread and develop
ed until now we have 134 organized coun-
ties in our State, with a membership of
Pol 900, and State Alliance, officered
and fully equipped TO manage the business
and look after the interests of this large
body of members.
O. ''To what do you ascribe the rapid
growth Of your order in Texas?"
A 1T is due to several causes, but 1t
may be briefly stated, that the great de-
preston in agricultural interests-the ut,
ter helplessness of the farmers TO control
the products of their labor-the general
system Of seryile dependence which was
gradually but surely fastening itself upon
US. These crushing evils We're growing
upon US and excited deep concern, If not
alarm among our thinking farmers. and
they We're auxiously looking for relief so,
they were not only ready but anxious, to
adopt Just such measures of relief as are
offered by the Alliance; hence they went
into it by hundreds and thousands"
Q. is your order, III any sense, pollt-
lcal organizationf
4. "In a partisan sense, No. There
are important reasons why it cannot be.
The Alliance is Of necessity a secret order,
and we know that party politics introduced
into a secret business organization would
kill it. then we could not belong to any
order that would require us to keep our
political principles or action secret. Of
course We not only tolerate, but we en-
courage and require our members to study
/ the science of economic government. 1t
is a business and not political Organlza-
I ton.
Q. You say it is of necessity secret
order; will you please explain why
a. simply to insure success. We are
learning some lessons from other interests
! and other classes. One of the most i'm
/ portant lessons is, that to succeed in any
| business, the plans and methods TO be en-
| ployed in its prosecution are not TO be
made public Merchants, banks, railroads,
| corporations of any kind do not throw
| open their plans and purposes to the world,
/ if they did they would never succeed.
We, the farmers of the South, must adopt
| the same wise precautions. We are a
secret order simply because the recognized
successful systems of our age admonlsh Us
| that it is the road to success in I'll bust
ness enterprise. The only secrets, | am
1 free to say that We have, are our business
/ plans and some machinery by which We
protect ourselves against imposition.
Q. who are eligible to membership in
your order.'
A. Il will quote the language of our
Constitution on this subject And he
read as follows: Farmers, farm labor
ers, mechanics, country school teachers,
country physicians, mot engaged in the
drug busness) and ministers of the gospel.
All persons becoming members must be OF
good moral character, believe in the exist
ence of a Supreme Being, be of industrious
habits-must be a white person and over
the age of 16 years.
@. "Does your order in any way conflict
| with the Grange, the Agricultural Wheel,
or the farmers clubs?"
A 1T does not, but is in thorough ac
cord with the general purposes of all these
organizations. Indeed, the Wheel in Ar
Kansas Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri
| have adopted our work. and now affiliate
fully with US. The Farmers Union oil
Louisiana and the Farmers Relief in Mis-
| gissippi, have adopted our work"
@. W hat is your aggregate member
ship, and chiefly in what territory"
A. About | 900, 600, chiefly in eight
Southern States"
@ Are you not affiliated with the AL
lance of the Northwest?'
A. 'We are not. That was originated
in Chicago. by Milton George, brother
of the noted Henry George. Theirs is ar
open political organization, and there ii
not, nor can there be, any affiliation be
tween us
O. "How was your order received by
the press and the business men of your
State, and how do they regard it now
A. s'At first the business men treated
the matter very lightly, and predicted it,
early and utter failure, and the press
sympathiZed with that view, and assumed
and declared that we were secret pOIt1
cal order, but now there is rot paper il
the whole State that is not our steadfas
friend, and the leading dailies are giving
Us their active and earnest support. The
business men, as a rule, are most kindly
disposed toward US and our order, and it.
success has their confidence and encour
agement. Indeed we have over 100 AL
lance cotton yards established in the State
and most of these were built for us will
money and contributions of the business
men in the towns in which they are locat
ed AS an inducement to establish Ou
State Headquarters in that city, Dalla
made a contribution to US in lots, lands
money, buildings, &c, amounting to no
less than 500, 900. This shows what th
business men of Texas think of u.s.
O. Well, have you had any troubl
with political parties or poitcians!'
A. with the parties, as such, no
Chronic Office seekers, political trickster
and disappointed soreheads have givel
us some trouble, but we are now in "a posi-
ton to paddle our own canoe"
Q. "You say you have cotton yards O
your own--will you give me the method
by which you run these yards, and some
thing of the benefits you claim for them:
A. ga detailed statement of the Who'll
system, would perhaps be longer than yol
would like to have in your paper at thi
time, and as it is the duty Of myself an
all organizers to explain fully and in de